The medicinal power of juniper has been known for a very long time. This plant is loved for its beauty, unique ability to purify the air from pathogens, and the surrounding area from winged blood-sucking insects. But most of all, juniper is valued for its ability to treat various diseases.
Healing properties of the plant
Juniper belongs to the genus of coniferous evergreens, and it has a lot of varieties. Due to its unpretentiousness and variety of shapes and shades, the shrub is popular with landscape designers who use it to decorate both urban park areas and private gardens. However, few juniper lovers are aware of its medicinal properties that can treat various ailments. Moreover, not only blue-black cone-shaped fruits are used, but also other parts of the plant.
- Juniper berries. The most valuable in them is the essential oil, which is used to treat urolithiasis and digestive disorders, whileberries can even be chewed just like that.
- Root, bark and wood of juniper. These parts of the plant contain substances that help normalize bowel function and reduce acidity in the stomach. It is very useful to use juniper bath brooms for healing the body.
- Juniper needles. It is used to prepare various tinctures and decoctions, which are used to treat nervous disorders, diseases of the respiratory system and as lotions for skin ailments. Another option for using pine needles is soothing juniper baths with the addition of pine decoction.
Juniper options
Juniper has many medicinal properties. Among them, for example, analgesic and antispasmodic, hemostatic, expectorant, as well as a calming effect. Thanks to such a wide range of applications, many dosage forms are obtained from juniper.
- Essential oil. It is used both in folk recipes in combination with other medicinal plants, and in cosmetology.
- Juniper rollers. Special pillows stuffed with shavings of this plant are very useful for headaches, insomnia and joint problems.
- Juniper tar. It is obtained by distilling dry wood. Tar can be added for inhalation, compresses and lotions, and also used for anti-inflammatory purposes for treating wounds.
- Decoctions and infusions. Brewing needles or fruits is useful for diseases of the urinary system, andalso for prevention purposes for the general strengthening of the body.
- Juniper fruits. In dried form, these fruits are sold in pharmacies, packaged in bulk or in bags.
- Juniper tincture. This tincture can be prepared with alcohol, vodka or moonshine at home.
We will tell you more about such a universal miracle remedy as juniper tincture, its use in various diseases, as well as cooking recipes.
Benefits of tincture
We have already talked about the medicinal properties of juniper. The same action in all of these diseases is preserved if you prepare a tincture from this plant.
The tincture has many uses, making it the most popular use for juniper fruit and needles. Apply it inside, alone or in combination with other herbs; externally, in the form of lotions or compresses; added to inhalation for respiratory diseases.
It should be noted that juniper is used to make alcoholic beverages such as juniper gin. At the same time, the drinks have a pronounced taste and amazing aroma.
Who is contraindicated for juniper tincture?
Despite all the usefulness of taking juniper tincture, if used incorrectly, it can harm the body.
- You can not take the tincture of pregnant and lactating mothers. It is better to make your choice in favor of decoctions and infusions.
- Juniperhas a strong diuretic effect, so the tincture is contraindicated in kidney disease. Taking too long also causes kidney irritation.
- When juniper tincture is taken orally, there is a strong rush of blood to the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it should not be used in diseases of the stomach or intestines.
- Do not exceed the dosage - this can lead to poisoning of the body!
Vodka tincture
The most popular juniper tincture recipes are with vodka. Let's take a look at some of them.
Recipe 1. Juniper tincture on vodka with honey. Perhaps this recipe is the easiest. We wash 10 grams of juniper berries, pour a liter of vodka. Add 50 grams of honey and insist ten days. To take this tincture should be to strengthen the body on a spoon twice a day, preferably before meals.
Recipe 2. Vodka tincture with spices. For this cooking method, we need: 50 grams of berries, two liters of vodka, ground black pepper 5 grams, 25 grams of s alt and 100 grams of dill seeds. We put all the ingredients in a bowl, pour vodka and leave for two weeks, shaking occasionally. This tincture should be taken as described above.
Recipe 3. Classic tincture. It is prepared exclusively with the use of juniper fruits and vodka. 200 grams of berries are poured with a liter of vodka and infused in the dark and warm for 3 weeks. Then the tincture is well filtered through gauze and removed for two weeks in the refrigerator. After that, it is completely ready for use:twice a day, 50 ml.
Only a doctor can evaluate the benefits or harms of juniper tincture on vodka for a particular disease, so be sure to consult a specialist before taking it.
Alcohol tincture
Juniper alcohol tincture tastes very similar to juniper gin. To cook it at home, follow the instructions:
- We take 610 ml of 90% alcohol. We divide it into two parts. We dilute the first with 70 ml of water and pour 25 g of juniper berries. And we also dilute the second one with water, but put cumin and coriander in it (2 teaspoons of each).
- Both parts should be insisted separately, within 5 days. And do not forget to periodically shake the containers, mixing the contents.
- The next step is filtration and distillation. Before distilling both parts separately, dilute each part with water so that the volume has increased by one and a half times.
- The resulting liquids must be mixed and further diluted with a liter of boiled water.
- Infuse the finished drink in the refrigerator for a week. After that, it is ready to eat.
Moonshine Tincture
Juniper tincture on moonshine differs from vodka in its strength. However, it is used in the same cases as vodka tincture.
Recipe 1. Two parts of moonshine are taken for one part of the berries, that is, two liters of moonshine will go for 1 kg of juniper fruits. Before pouring the berries, they should be thoroughly crushed. After adding moonshine, we insisttwo weeks, after which we distill until a quarter of the liquid has evaporated. It is better to pour the finished tincture into dark glass bottles.
Recipe 2. Ingredients for cooking: moonshine 10 liters, juniper fruit 200 grams, citrus peel (orange or lemon) 30 grams. Berries and zest pour moonshine, insist for a week, strain. Add five liters of purified water and overtake to a fortress of 40-45 degrees.
Juniper tincture in folk medicine
Tincture of juniper berries is very often used in the treatment of many diseases by folk methods. For example, with radiculitis and rheumatism. In the first case, the tincture is added to a warm bath (3-4 tablespoons), or medical compresses are made. To get rid of rheumatic pains, dilute a couple of tablespoons of the tincture with hot water, pour it into a basin and keep your legs in it.
In diseases of the respiratory tract, you can rinse with juniper tincture. And with bronchitis, hot milk with one teaspoon of tincture and honey will help.
With pyelonephritis, a mixture of a decoction of knotweed herb and juniper tincture will help. Add a teaspoon of tincture to one glass of decoction, take 2-3 glasses a day.
If you are worried about a boil, you can speed up its maturation with a mixture of grated potatoes, chopped sorrel and tincture, which must be applied to the sore spot for 10-15 minutes.
Use in cosmetology
Tincture of juniper berries is also popular in cosmetology.
- He althy skin. To make your skin clean and get rid of acne, blackheads and other irritations, a wonderful mask with viburnum juice, onion and tincture (all in equal proportions) will help you. The main thing is to do it regularly, 2-3 times a week.
- Thick hair. Hair loss is a very common problem. To strengthen the hair follicles, use the following method: rub a mixture of tincture and garlic juice into the hair roots. You can add your balm to it. Keep the mask for half an hour, then rinse your hair thoroughly with shampoo. Perform this procedure once a week.
Remember that before using juniper tincture for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, you must make sure that you are not allergic to any component contained in it. To do this, before using the tincture on a large surface of the body, apply a couple of drops to the elbow. If no reaction appears within half an hour, you can safely use this wonderful remedy.
